By Steven Viner
Special to BostonSportsJournal.com
His legend will live for eternity. However, on the morning of January 11th, 2024, the Puppet Master’s strings were cut. A king, dethroned. The reigning chess champion heard that stomach churning word:
“Checkmate.”
I’m not introducing this article by listing Belichick’s resume. What he accomplished for the New England Patriots is universally known and a testament to the exhausting efforts he gave our beloved football team. I praised Tom Brady for being a lunatic. A true crazy person. No one, and I mean no one, wins as much as Brady, and continues to work harder to improve while stiff arming complacency every passing year like #12 did.
Except for William Stephen Belichick.
The Super Bowls as a coordinator, the Super Bowls as a head coach. Eight total. When every season you start at the bottom, it’s human nature to lax a bit after reaching the mountain top so many times. At least normal people do. Yet you always got the sense that Belichick gave it his all. Every time, every game. Not to mention, Brady refusing to get comfortable in his laurels? Don’t think for a second that Belichick’s strategic button-pushing didn’t have something to do with that. Two Geniuses. Two Nut Jobs. Two mad scientists always working together to concoct their next Championship. For us fans, it was like hitting the Powerball. Twice.
However, like many others, Belichick was a victim to the “other” mythical force who is undefeated once one gets older. Not Father Time.
Uncle Stubborn.
Bob Dylan sang, “The Times They are Changing.” Bradley Walsh warned, “The times change, and if you don't change with them, you get left behind.” Unfortunately, the meticulous, methodical, leave-no-stone-unturned Belichick isn't a Dylan fan and Mr. Walsh has never “Sealed the Edge”, so Bill probably has never heard of him as well. Hard to realize it, but Belichick is human. Mortal. What happens to 99% of us when we hit the big 5-0? We start to get set in our ways. Believe the good ol’ way of doing things were always the best.
As brilliant as Bill was, he never figured out that the second half of his career he needed to scrap being Bill Belichick, and start being Andy Reid, or Sean McVay, or dare I say it, Mike McDaniel. An offensive mastermind.
The way Belichick constructed the Patriots over the past few years was akin to running a major accounting firm in today’s day and age without computers. Pencil and paper only. Snail mail and landlines. It just doesn’t work. Combine that with a clear slippage in coaching—both strategic and ability to instill discipline in his players like he used to—and you get a final record of 4-13. Welcome to today’s offensive-minded, pass-happy NFL.
It’s a sad, but necessary day.
But man, when Coach was on his game … what a time. What a run. The moments when he’d outfox his adversary on the other sideline, making us Patriots fans cackle with the cockiness and confidence of a 4-year-old dressed as Superman were aplenty. Us Patriots lovers, listening to the fan on the other side of the bar yell at their team’s checker-playing coach, “Idiot! What are you doing!” when we gloated about our chess playing field general. Occasionally we’d get the gift of a smile sneaking past Belichick’s forever poker face, inducing goosebumps while our arm hairs stood at attention. What … a … run.
Football-wise, there were missed opportunities. Any Gridiron God would when you’re in power for 24 years. Today is not the day to list them. But, one I would like to mention: damn you Belichick for depriving the football world of your sneaky wit. Your sense of humor.
He showed glimpses of it on occasion, and former players and colleagues—when the cameras were off—have confirmed it exists. Man what a treat he could have been all these years if he chose that road over snarling at every reporter sitting before him. Some will say that wasn’t him. That being so complimentary towards the other team was a small part of his greatness and grand plan to not give them bulletin board material. I say, “Pfft!” When Bill was at his best, those slight advantages would not have stopped the most brilliant tactician in football history from ruling the football world. Oh, what a shame.
History shows us that every dynasty falls, like our once-powerful Patriots have. Although ours has officially crumbled to pebbles and dust, it was the greatest one in Sports History. I am so honored, and so grateful to have it etched in my soul. Not counting personal family moments, the greatest memories of my life have involved my family, my friends, watching the New England Patriots together. Who started it all? The man, the myth, a true legend. The Hoodie. The G.O.A.T. Thank you Coach Belichick.
Patriots fans … we’re on to the unknown.